By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
June 8 – Australia is emerging as the leading contender to host the 2022 World Cup, the bid’s head Frank Lowy (pictured) has claimed.
Lowy, who is currently in South Africa where the 2010 World Cup opens on Friday (June 11), claims that he has received even more positive feedback than he did in Cape Town last December when Australia and its rivals all gave presentations to FIFA.
He told News Limited in an exclusive interview: “We are gaining ground.
“I am talking to the people who matter and I hear what they say.
“I hear their sentiments and I am hearing some very good sentiments about Australia.”
Lowy, the chairman of Football Federation Australia (FFA), claimed that there were several reasons for Australia’s encouraging position.
He said: ”We are a stable country, we are a safe country, we are a sport-loving country, we are a multicultural society … we are a safe pair of hands.”
With the 2018 World Cup set to be awarded one of the European bidders, Australia will face Japan, Qatar, South Korea and the United States for the right to host the 2022 tournament.
Lowy said: ”We are the gateway to Asia which is home to two-thirds of the world’s population.
“We have a lot going for us and that is why we are going so well.”
Australia and the US are the only non-European countries bidding for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cup.
Lowy admitted that Australia may withdraw to concentrate on 2022.
He told News Limited: ”I don’t need to concede one or the other, we are in with a bid for both.
“But if I consider it advantageous for us to change our position then we will.
“At this stage I see no reason.
“I know there is a lot of noise about it being Europe in 2018 and the rest of us in 2022, but this is noise.
“So we have a foot in both camps and we intend to stay there.”
Lowy’s growing confidence in spite of a row between the FFA and the rival codes, particularly the Australian Football League (AFL), over the use of venues during the World Cup.
He said: ”I think that is now all behind us and we are moving forward.
“If it was an issue it is not an issue anymore.”
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